Scaffold.



' useful Scaffold,

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 2,1906. Serial No. 294,205.

Patented July 24, 1906.

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, HENRY RUFFNER LAIRD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Millersburg, in the county of Bourbon and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to combined folding scaffolds and step-ladders, more particularly designed for the use of paper-hangers and decorators, masons, carpenters, and similar workmen, and also adapted for domestic use, and has for its object to improve the construction and increase the efficiency and utility of devices of this character.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

- In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which corresponding parts are denoted by like designating characters, is illustrated the preferred form of the embodiment of the invention capable of carrying the same into practical operation, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, and minor details of construction may be resorted to.

Without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved device distended or in operative position. Fig. 2 is a side view of the improved device collapsed or folded. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of portions of the frame and platform. Fig. 4 is a detail of a portion of the supporting-frame with a caster attached.

The improved device comprises a supporting-frame formed of four standards 10, 11, 12, and 13, the members and 11 connected by a hinged joint 14 and the numbers 12 13 connected by a hinged joint 15, as shown. The members 11 and 12 are connected near the ends farthest from the hinges by a transverse brace 16. Pivoted at 17 18 to the frame members 10 and 12 are side bars 19 20, the latter supporting a platform 22, as shown. The side bars and the platform supported thereby are disposed some distance below the hinged ends of the frame members 10 and 12 and also extend each way laterally from the same, the lateral extension being shorter at one side; The shorter ends of the bars 19 20 p are pivoted at 23 24 to side rails 25 26, the latter in turn connected to the frame members 10 12 by shorter bars 27 28, spaced apart at suitable intervals. The shorter bars 27 and 28 are disposed parallel to each other and also parallel to the side bars 19 20 and are connected by steps 29. Attached to the side members 19 20 are plates 31 32, having spaced hooks 33 34, adapted to engage pins 36, one at a time, the pins extending through the frame members 11 and 13, as shown.

With a device thus constructed it will be obvious that the platform 22 is firmly supported and adjustable to any required height within the range of the stop-hooks 33 34 and with a ladder formed by the spaced steps 29, leading to the platform. The frame members 10, 11, 12, and 13 may be made of'any required length and any required number of the bars 27 28 and steps 29 employed to correspond therewith.

The pivots connecting the frame members, rails, and bars are preferably bolts, and the pins 35 36 are also preferably bolts, so that they can be easily detached when the device is to be collapsed, asinFig. 2. The lower ends of the frame members and rails may be provided with casters, as shown at 37 in Fig. 4, to facilitate the movement from place to place. A forked brace 38 is connected at 39 40 to the frame members 10 and 12 and with its single portion extending through a clip or bracket 41 on the cross-brace 16, the clip having a set-screw 42 bearing upon the rod within the clip to secure the rod at any desired point. By this means when the frame,

steps, and platform have been adjusted to the desired position the set-screw will be set home against the rod, and thus firmlybind the parts together, as will be obvious.

en the device is to be collapsed, as in Fig. 2, the rod-brace will be released from the bracket and folded with the other parts.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1. In a combined scaffold and step-ladder, frames movably connected at one end, a platform swinging intermediate its length from one of said frames, means for adjustably connecting one portion of said platform to the other frame, rails swinging from the other portion of said platform, spaced bars coupling said rails to the adjacent frame, and laddersteps connected to said bars.

2. In a combined scaffold and stepladder,

IIO

frames movably connected, a platform swinging intermediate its length from one of said frames and provided with spaced stops, stoppins carried by the other framefor engaging said spaced stops, rails swinging from the other portion of the platform, spaced bars coupling said rails to the adjacent frame, and ladder-steps connecting the bars.

3. In a combined scaffold and step-ladder, frames movably connected, a platform swinging intermediate its length from one of said frames, means for adjustably connecting one portion of said platform to the other frame, a brace swinging from one of said frames, and means for adjustably connecting said brace ,to the other frame.

4:. In a combined scaffold and step-ladder, frames movably connected, a platform swing- HENRY RUFFNER LAIRD.

Witnesses:

J. O. LAYSON, Jo'HN VIMOR. 

